We study $AdS_3 times S^1 times Y$ supersymmetric string theory backgrounds with Neveu-Schwarz-Neveu-Schwarz flux that are dual to ${cal N}=2$ superconformal theories on the boundary. We classify all worldsheet vertex operators that correspond to spa
ce-time chiral primaries. We compute space-time chiral ring structure constants for operators in the zero spectral flow sector using the operator product expansion in the worldsheet theory. We find that the structure constants take a universal form that depends only on the topological data of the ${cal N}=2$ superconformal theory on $Y$.
We study finite temperature string scale $AdS_3$ backgrounds. One background is $AdS_3 times S^1 times T^2$ in which the anti-de Sitter space-time and the circle are at the radius $sqrt{alpha}$. Using path integral techniques, we show that the bulk s
pectrum includes a continuum of states as well as Ramond-Ramond ground states that agree with those of the symmetric orbifold of the two-torus after second quantization. We also examine the one-loop free energy of the background $AdS_3 times S^1$ at curvature radius $sqrt{2 alpha/3}$. In the space-time NSNS sector, the string theory spontaneously breaks conformal symmetry as well as R-charge conjugation symmetry. We prove that the minimum in the boundary energy is reached for a singly wound string. In the RR sector, we classify the infinite set of ground states with fractional R-charges. Moreover, we remark on the behaviour of critical temperatures as the curvature scale becomes smaller than the string scale. In an appendix, we derive the Hawking-Page transition in string theory by integrating a world sheet one-point function.
We revisit the calculation of the thermal free energy for string theory in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime with Neveu-Schwarz-Neveu-Schwarz flux. The path integral calculation is exploited to confirm the off-shell Hilbert space and we find
that the Casimir of the discrete representations of the isometry group takes values in a half-open interval. We extend the free energy calculation to the case of superstrings, calculate the boundary toroidal twisted partition function in the Ramond-Ramond sector, and prove lower bounds on the boundary conformal dimension from the bulk perspective. We classify Ramond-Ramond ground states and construct their second quantized partition function. The partition function exhibits intriguing modular properties.
We analyse topological orbifold conformal field theories on the symmetric product of a complex surface M. By exploiting the mathematics literature we show that a canonical quotient of the operator ring has structure constants given by Hurwitz numbers
. This proves a conjecture in the physics literature on extremal correlators. Moreover, it allows to leverage results on the combinatorics of the symmetric group to compute more structure constants explicitly. We recall that the full orbifold chiral ring is given by a symmetric orbifold Frobenius algebra. This construction enables the computation of topological genus zero and genus one correlators, and to prove the vanishing of higher genus contributions. The efficient description of all topological correlators sets the stage for a proof of a topological AdS/CFT correspondence. Indeed, we propose a concrete mathematical incarnation of the proof, relating Gromow-Witten theory in the bulk to the quantum cohomology of the Hilbert scheme on the boundary.
We construct a string theory in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space-time that is independent of the boundary metric. It is a topologically twisted theory of quantum gravity. We study string theories with an asymptotic N=2 superconformal symmetry a
nd demonstrate that, when the world sheet coupling to the space-time boundary metric undergoes a U(1) R-symmetry twist, the space-time boundary energy-momentum tensor becomes topological. As a by-product of our analysis, we obtain the world sheet vertex operator that codes the space-time energy-momentum for conformally flat boundary metrics.
We define a supersymmetric quantum mechanics of fermions that take values in a simple Lie algebra. We summarize what is known about the spectrum and eigenspaces of the Laplacian which corresponds to the Koszul differential d. Firstly, we concentrate
on the zero eigenvalue eigenspace which coincides with the Lie algebra cohomology. We provide physical insight into useful tools to compute the cohomology, namely Morse theory and the Hochschild-Serre spectral sequence. We list explicit generators for the Lie algebra cohomology ring. Secondly, we concentrate on the eigenspaces of the supersymmetric quantum mechanics with maximal eigenvalue at given fermion number. These eigenspaces have an explicit description in terms of abelian ideals of a Borel subalgebra of the simple Lie algebra. We also introduce a model of Lie algebra valued fermions in two dimensions, where the spaces of maximal eigenvalue acquire a cohomological interpretation. Our work provides physical interpretations of results by mathematicians, and simplifies the proof of a few theorems. Moreover, we recall that these mathematical results play a role in pure supersymmetric gauge theory in four dimensions, and observe that they give rise to a canonical representation of the four-dimensional chiral ring.
We analyse a simple example of a holographically dual pair in which we topologically twist both theories. The holography is based on the two-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric Liouville conformal field theory that defines a unitary bulk quantum supergrav
ity theory in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space. The supersymmetric version of three-dimensional Liouville quantum gravity allows for a topological twist on the boundary and in the bulk. We define the topological bulk supergravity theory in terms of twisted boundary conditions. We corroborate the duality by calculating the chiral configurations in the bulk supergravity theory and by quantising the solution space. Moreover, we note that the boundary calculation of the structure constants of the chiral ring carries over to the bulk theory as well. We thus construct a topological AdS/CFT duality in which the bulk theory is independent of the boundary metric.
We sharpen the duality between open and closed topological string partition functions for topological gravity coupled to matter. The closed string partition function is a generalised Kontsevich matrix model in the large dimension limit. We integrate
out off-diagonal degrees of freedom associated to one source eigenvalue, and find an open/closed topological string partition function, thus proving open/closed duality. We match the resulting open partition function to the generating function of intersection numbers on moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces with boundaries and boundary insertions. Moreover, we connect our work to the literature on a wave function of the KP integrable hierarchy and clarify the role of the extended Virasoro generators that include all time variables as well as the coupling to the open string observable.
We define a three-dimensional quantum theory of gravity as the holographic dual of the Liouville conformal field theory. The theory is consistent and unitary by definition. The corresponding theory of gravity with negative cosmological constant has p
eculiar properties. The quantum theory has no normalisable AdS3 vacuum. The model contains primary black holes with zero spin. All states can be interpreted as black holes dressed with boundary gravitons. There is a unique universal interaction between these states consistent with unitarity and the conformal symmetry of the model. This theory of gravity, though conceptually isolated from other models of quantum gravity, is worth scrutinising.
We demonstrate an equivalence between two integrable flows defined in a polynomial ring quotiented by an ideal generated by a polynomial. This duality of integrable systems allows us to systematically exploit the Korteweg-de Vries hierarchy and its t
au-function to propose amplitudes for non-compact topological gravity on Riemann surfaces of arbitrary genus. We thus quantise topological gravity coupled to non-compact topological matter and demonstrate that this phase of topological gravity at N=2 matter central charge larger than three is equivalent to the phase with matter of central charge smaller than three.
